Digital Commons Network^™

An Overview Of Various Labeled Assays Used In Medical Laboratory Diagnosis. Immune And Non-Immune Assays, Mohammad-Ayman A. Safi

Saudi Medical Journal

In this review, some light is thrown on various labeled immunoassays that depend on antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) reactions, including immunofluorescence, radioimmunoassay, and enzyme immunoassay (EIA or ELISA). Their definitions, principles, and applications are described, then they are discussed chronologically to show their stepwise development that led finally to full automation. Enzyme labeled immunoblot assays (Western blot, blot spot, and recombinant immunoblot assay), and luminescence (bioluminescence and chemiluminescence) are also discussed chronologically. Labeled assays, that do not involve Ag-Ab reaction but rather, utilizing biotin-streptavidin (BS) interaction and probe-target DNA interaction, are described, together with their applications for DNA/RNA detection and genotyping. Finally, …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Enterococcus Spp. Isolated From Bird Droppings In Three Areas In Laguna., Aries Samuel Catamio

Undergraduate Theses

One hundred (100) presumptive Enterococcus spp. were isolated from fecal samples of four types of birds in three areas in Laguna. These isolates were partially characterized using morphological, biochemical, and physiological tests to further establish their membership in the genus Enterococcus. All the fecal isolates were found to have characteristics typical for enterococci. These isolates were then screened for antimicrobial activity against selected spoilage and pathogenic bacteria using agar-stab, spot on lawn, agar-well, and cylinder cup methods. During primary screening using agar stab method, all isolates were tested to have inhibitory activity against all the indicator strains and 45 of …

Evaluation Of Phorbol Ester Toxicity Of Jatropha Curcas Using Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.) Bioassay., Rodessa Marasigan De Castro

Undergraduate Theses

The use of Jatropha curcas L. as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel is rapidly growing. The cake after oil extraction is rich in protein and is a potential source of animal feed. However, because of the high toxicity of the cake due to the presence of phorbol esters, the cake was subjected to alkali, ethanol and fermentation treatments to remove or reduce the amount of phorbol esters in the cake. Toxicity studies were conducted on tilapia fingerlings by feeding treated as well as untreated cake. The fish fed with raw Jatropha cake was observed to have reduced appetite …

Integrated Effects Of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza And Nostoc Sp. Irri 59 Combined With Inorganic Fertilizer On Soil Microbial Population And Growth Of Lowland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)., Niko Calienta Cedicol

Undergraduate Theses

Improvement in growth of lowland rice (var. NSIC-122/Angelica) and fluctuations in soil microbial population at different growth stages were studied under the influence of varying inorganic fertilizer levels, and/or using VAM fungi (Mykovam BIOTECH) and Nostoc sp. IRRI 59 treatment. Inoculation of rice seeds with Mykovam resulted to increased seedling height, greener leaf blades and longer and finer root hairs as compared to uninoculated at 10 days after seed germination. Leaf Color Chart (LCC) reading 7 days after tillering stage (45 days old), revealed 100% N deficiency for uninoculated Control and Mykovam treatments which did not receive either chemical fertilizer …

Influence Of Age And Length Of Temephos Exposure On Lipofuscin And Hemosiderin Proliferation In The Splenic Melanomacrophage Centers (Mmcs) Of The Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.)., Darahlyn Magas Biel

Undergraduate Theses

The study aims to determine the influence of age and length of temephos exposure on lipofuscin and hemosiderin proliferation in splenic melanomacrophage centers (MMCs) of Oreochromis niloticus. Age-related and time-course experiments were conducted separately. Thirty, 1 ½ month old individuals were equally distributed to 3 age groups which are the following: 2, 3, and 4 months. On the other hand, fifty, 3 month old individuals were subjected to 5 time-course treatments which include: 3, 7, 11, 15 days and control (untreated for 15 days). Low concentration of temephos (0.16mg/L) was applied. Lipofuscin and hemosiderin pigments were measured using Image J …

Mechanical Properties Of Hydroxyapatite-Zirconia Compacts Sintered By Two Different Sintering Methods, Declan J. Curran, Thomas J. Fleming, Mark R. Towler, Stuart Hampshire

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microwave sintering is traditionally employed to reduce the sintering temperature required to densify powder compacts. The effect of microwave heating on hydroxyapatite (HA)-zirconia (ZrO₂) green bodies has been investigated in order to understand how microwave energy may affect the physical and mechanical properties of the resultant densified composites. Laboratory synthesised nano-sized HA and a commercial nano-sized ZrO₂ powder have been ball milled to create mixtures containing 0-5 wt% ZrO₂ loadings. Compacts were microwave sintered at either 700, 1000 or 1200°C with a 1 h hold time. Comparative firings were also performed in a resistive element furnace …

Managing Media Rich Geo-Spatial Annotations For A Map-Based Mobile Application Using Clustering, Khasfariyati Razikin, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh, Ee Peng Lim, Aixin Sun, Yin-Leng Theng, Thi Nhu Quynh Kim, Kalyani Chatterjea, Chew-Hung Chang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With the prevalence of mobile devices that are equipped with wireless Internet capabilities and Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, the creation and access of user-generated content are extended to users on the go. Such content are tied to real world objects, in the form of geospatial annotations, and it is only natural that these annotations are visualized using a map-based approach. However, viewing maps that are filled with annotations could hinder the serendipitous discovery of data, especially on the small screens of mobile devices. This calls for a need to manage the annotations. In this paper, we introduce a mobile …

Terminology Revisited: Effective Communications For The Agricultural Community, Kenneth E. Turner, David P. Belesky

Journal of Extension

In 1862 (when USDA established) about 60% of the U.S. population were farmers, but in 2000 it was around 2%. Many people from a diversity of backgrounds are returning to small acreages and are newcomers to agriculture. Pasture-based production systems for meat goats, sheep, and cattle are growing rapidly in the eastern U.S., especially on smaller-scale farms. Increasing demand for U.S.-grown agricultural products, including pasture-raised meat and dairy products, requires renewed efforts to relay practical production agriculture information as effectively as possible. We emphasize the need to return to use of standardized terminology when explaining soil, plant, and livestock management …

Using Quality Attributes And Computational Intelligence To Generate And Evaluate System Architecture Alternatives, Atmika Singh, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper proposes an evolutionary algorithm based approach for evolving architecture alternatives using quality attributes as design drivers. A novel fuzzy architecture assessment approach is presented to quantitatively evaluate the set of possible solutions based on linguistic assessments of architecture quality attributes elicited from the stakeholders. The proposed approach makes a valuable contribution to the systems architecting knowledge base by presenting a measurable and quantifiable approach to architecture design and evaluation.

Pathogenesis Of Acute Coronary Syndrome (Acs), Pitha Promlikitchai

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Acute coronary syndrome is the common cause of death in western countries and developing countriesincluding Thailand. More delay in diagnasis and management will lead to higher mortality rate. The understanding ofpathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome is very vital for effective short and long term management of the patients andfor primary prevention of the general population.

Antioxidant Activity And Chemical Constituents In Purple Glutinous Rice Thailand Local Genotypes, Chalerm Jansom, Sakul Moolkam, Vanida Jansom, Ekasith Skulkhu, Kornkarn Bhamarapravatana

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Genetic diversity and growing environment cause differentiation of chemical constituents in purpleglutinous rice (Oryza Sativa L.) The colors of pericarp layers are characterized by anthocyanins profile. Theanthocyanins are cyanidin dihexoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin hexoside and peonidin 3-glucoside.They belong to parent class of flavonoids, which have antioxidant activity. In this study was to investigatefor antioxidant activity and chemical constituents in purple glutinous rice Thailand local genotypes. The 36local genotypes of purple glutinous rice were collected from the north and northeast of Thailand.

K-Entry 12 Niewdam gave the highest antioxidant activity both DPPH radical scavenging assay (IC50 =26.64 ± 1.14 μg/ml) …

North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden Teaches About Best Management Practices And Fire Defensible Space, John Cobourn

Journal of Extension

Because water quality and wildfire are critical issues at Lake Tahoe, a demonstration garden teaches about best management practices and defensible space, in addition to demonstrating what plants grow in our mountain environment. Extension worked with the local Conservation District to design and build unique displays with interpretive signs that show people options they can use on their properties. All demonstrations comply with requirements for control of nonpoint source pollution and for fire defensible space. The garden's biggest contribution to the community is that it teaches property owners how they can meet multiple environmental objectives in an effective and attractive …

Opportunities For Planned County-Based Wildlife Programming, Andrea M. Kleist, Christopher E. Moorman, Christopher S. Deperno, Robert E. Bardon

Journal of Extension

Extension personnel trained in agricultural fields may not adequately meet client needs in natural resources-related topics. To help guide strategies to improve planned wildlife programming, we conducted a survey of North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service county agents. Forty-six of 101 county agents responded, with 62% of respondents indicating lack of training limited their abilities to conduct wildlife programming. Development of seminars and educational resources by university-based Extension specialists may help county agents conduct formal programming related to wildlife conservation. Additionally, county agents can partner with local natural resource management professionals to develop and conduct wildlife-related programming.

Mining Diversity On Networks, Lu Liu, Feida Zhu, Chen Chen, Xifeng Yan, Jiawei Han, Philip Yu, Shiqiang Yang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Despite the recent emergence of many large-scale networks in different application domains, an important measure that captures a participant’s diversity in the network has been largely neglected in previous studies. Namely, diversity characterizes how diverse a given node connects with its peers. In this paper, we give a comprehensive study of this concept. We first lay out two criteria that capture the semantic meaning of diversity, and then propose a compliant definition which is simple enough to embed the idea. An efficient top-k diversity ranking algorithm is developed for computation on dynamic networks. Experiments on both synthetic and real datasets …

The Influence Of Mechanical Circulation On Water Column Stability And Dissolved Oxygen In Stratified Lakes, Paal Engebrigtsen

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Surface circulators have been used in wastewater and industrial lagoons for many years, but only recently have they been designed for lakes and reservoirs as a water quality management tool. Their relatively low capital investment and operational costs make them an attractive chemical free option for ameliorating the symptoms of eutrophication. Little research has been conducted on their effectiveness in impacting water quality. Today many lake managers are waiting for independent research on surface circulators' performance before installing such systems.

The Occoquan Reservoir was the primary site for a study conducted to examine the influence of surface circulation on water …

Ecological Interactions Between Spiders And The Purple Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia Purpurea, Marc Aaron Milne

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Spiders and harvestmen are commonly captured by or reside upon the carnivorous purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. Although spiders and harvestmen are often known to be prey of S. purpurea, other ecological interactions between these arthropods and the plant are poorly understood. Studies were undertaken at three pitcher plant populations, two in Virginia and one in North Carolina, to assess the ecological relationships between spiders and harvestmen and S. purpurea. Multiple plots containing pitcher plants (treatment) and plots lacking pitcher plants (control) were created at these locations. Spiders and harvestmen were collected through five different techniques. Spatial, …

The Effect Of Individual Or Group Guidelines On The Calibration Accuracy Of High School Biology Students, Camilla C. Walck

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

The effect of individual or group guidelines on the calibration accuracy of high school biology students was investigated. The study was conducted with 102 International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program biology students in a public school setting. The study was carried out over three testing occasions. Students worked in group or individual settings with and without calibration guidelines. Four intact classes were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: groups calibrating without guidelines; groups calibrating with guidelines; individuals calibrating without guidelines; individuals calibrating with guidelines. The students participated in the calibration activities one block before they actually took each of the …

Cellular Immunity In Mouse Models Of Viral Encephalitis, Christina Dawn Steel

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Evidence is presented herein that intranasal application of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) caused acute infection of the murine central nervous system (CNS) with associated morbidity and significant mortality in mice. However, VSV encephalitis was not invariably fatal, suggesting that the CNS contained a professional antigen-presenting cell (APC) capable of inducing or propagating a protective antiviral immune response. To examine this possibility, we administered VSV via the intranasal route and then characterized the cellular elements that infiltrate the brain as well as the activation status of resident microglia, cells widely believed to represent the major APC population in the CNS. To …

The Effects Of Cocaine And Ecstasy On Cardiac Myocytes And The Intact Myocardium, David A. Tiangco

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Cocaine and ecstasy are widely used illicit drugs. Both drugs have undergone intense scrutiny as information regarding their side-effects has become available. One important yet incomplete area of investigation pertains to their effects on the heart. The purpose of the current studies was to test the hypothesis that exposure to cocaine or ecstasy will adversely affect cellular homeostasis and normal heart function. Cultured cardiac myocytes (H9c2) and New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used to measure the responses to various concentrations of cocaine or ecstasy at both the cellular and intact organ system levels. We observed that cocaine and …

Combining Molecular And Imaging Biomarkers To Enhance Maldi Biomarker Analysis, Ayyappa Chowdary Vadlamudi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents a three-step method to predict prostate cancer (PCa) regions on biopsy tissue samples based on high confident, low resolution PCa regions marked by a pathologist. First, a prediction model is designed to predict PCa regions using matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) tissue imaging data from one prostate tissue slice. Second, a texture analysis technique is applied to a high magnification optical image for the same purpose from an adjacent tissue slice. Finally, those two results are fused to obtain the PCa regions that will assist MALDI imaging biomarker analysis. Experiments show that the texture analysis based …

Unm Camp Newsletter - Spring 2010, Unm Camp

College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)

No abstract provided.

Freedom At Home Revisited: The New Mexico Equal Rights Amendment After New Mexico Right To Choose/Naral V. Johnson, Linda M. Vanzi

New Mexico Law Review

No abstract provided.

Keeping Up With The E. Coli: Considering Human-Nonhuman Relationships In Natural Resources Policy, Mrill Ingram

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Reconciling Norm Conflict In Endangered Species Conservation On Private Land, Andrea Olive, Leigh Raymond

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Land Use Regulation: Time To Think About Fairness, Joseph L. Sax

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Tribal Justice And Property Rights: The Evolution Of Winters V. United States, A. Dan Tarlock

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

When Equity Almost Mattered: Outdoor Recreation, Land Acquisition, And Mid-Twentieth-Century Conservation Politics, Sarah L. Thomas

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Group Ii Metabolic Glutamate Receptors In The Basal Amygdala Regulate Sleep And Fear-Induced Alterations In Sleep, Enheng Dong

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and it has been recognized as playing an essential role in activating and maintaining arousal. Group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu II) receptors are expressed in the amygdala, a brain structure important in the regulation of stress and anxiety as well as in the regulation of sleep and arousal. Our lab has found that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) is involved in the emotional modulation of sleep. The basal amygdala (BA), which has direct connections with the CNA, is involved in conditioned fear and fear extinction. However, the potential role …

Human Osteoblast Proliferation In Culture Following A Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (Nspef), Leonard Joseph Carinci Jr.

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Osteoblasts are mononucleate bone forming cells responsible for the deposition of new bone. Application of mechanical stress on bone reveals its ability to produce and release electric potentials across the cell membrane called piezoelectricity. The electric potentials produced in response to mechanical stress may have a direct correlation on osseous cells and the signaling pathways that regulate proliferation. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are high intensity, ultrashort pulses which have the ability to maintain the integrity of the cell membrane by avoiding traditional electroporation. We delivered 8 nsPEFs (0.5 Hz) of a 25 kV/cm or 35 kV/cm electric field strength …

Genome-Wide Association Study Of Cnvs In 16,000 Cases Of Eight Common Diseases And 3,000 Shared Controls, The Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium

School of Biomedical Sciences

Copy number variants (CNVs) account for a major proportion of human genetic polymorphism and have been predicted to have an important role in genetic susceptibility to common disease. To address this we undertook a large, direct genome-wide study of association between CNVs and eight common human diseases. Using a purpose-designed array we typed approximately 19,000 individuals into distinct copy-number classes at 3,432 polymorphic CNVs, including an estimated approximately 50% of all common CNVs larger than 500 base pairs. We identified several biological artefacts that lead to false-positive associations, including systematic CNV differences between DNAs derived from blood and cell lines. …